Firms’ need DSE danger awareness’

Written By Helen Griffiths | Nov 4th, 2009 | | | Category: Julian's Posts

While working at a computer workstation is an increasingly common feature of the modern career, long periods in front of display screen equipment (DSE) can have health and safety consequences.

Richard Jones, policy and technical director at the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, said some of the perceived risks associated with visual display units (VDUs), such as radiation from the screen affecting pregnant women, are merely myths.

However, he revealed that real health problems can be caused by a workstation, firms looking into the Computer Safety Poster for their offices should know.

Mr Jones asserted that one of the major problems resulting from such working practices is repetitive strain injury (RSI), which is caused when employees spend a prolonged amount of time at a keyboard and is addressed by the DSE Interactive CD Rom.

Describing RSI as “quite disabling”, the expert explained: “The latest thing is getting it from mouse work. People doing a lot of work on a mouse with one hand, one finger clicking constantly, can cause some sort of muscular and skeletal problems.”

According to figures from the Trades Union Congress (TUC), around one in 50 UK workers suffer from RSI, which costs the economy 5.4 million working days a year and causes six people to leave their jobs each day.

Mr Jones noted that efforts have been made to remedy this problem, such as VDU Assessment Forms being made a legal requirement, and recommended people take a five minute break from their desk every hour.

In addition, the expert revealed that working in front of DSE can have an impact on an individual’s posture, a topic which is detailed in the DSE - The Facts DVD.

He stated: “If the work station isn’t set up correctly then individuals can adopt a poor posture which can lead to back or neck conditions or work related upper limb disorders.”

Suggesting ways to remedy the situation, which are also covered in the H&S for Computer Operators Booklets, Mr Jones explained that some issues will have been looked at when the VDU Assessment Forms were filled out, such as the flexibility of the desk, PC, screen, keyboard and chair to fit different users.

He also recommended that making use of a document holder when referring to papers to type up can help reduce the effects of some posture problems, as could alternative input devices including voice-activated software and an ergonomic mouse.

The TUC agrees that posture problems, and others such as eyestrain and headaches, are the result of a badly laid out workstation and pointed out that most of these issues can be avoided by companies paying attention to how desks are organised.

According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), workers can attempt to avoid potential problems by adjusting their VDU and chair until they find a comfortable position, which means eyes at the same height as the top of the screen and forearms able to be held horizontal.

Furthermore, the HSE advises firms provide their workers with relevant training in ways to use their DSE in a manner which does not cause them harm, which could interest employers looking at the DSE Interactive CD Rom and H&S for Computer Operators Booklets.

Mr Jones also highlighted another increasing issue in VDU health and safety -the use of laptops.

The expert claimed the fact that they are not confined to a workstation can cause problems, as “you see people working on trains, in waiting rooms, and they are in all sorts of awkward positions operating their laptop”, while carrying them around for long periods of time can also have an effect on the body.

However, he concluded by telling employers that the majority of health and safety issues connected with DSE can be avoided through good working practices, training and good-quality equipment.